I rode this trail from Fredericksburg to Killbuck. The trail was exceptionally smooth, pleasant to ride, and worth a visit. It's in an Amish area, and most of the trail is divided with one half for buggies and one half for bikes/pedestrians. Care is always required when passing horses, but the other trail users were very courteous and allowed me to pass.

Conditions:
Fully paved. One short section in Holmesville takes you on some quiet country roads, but it was well marked.

Scenery:
Rolling farmland and small towns.

Access/facilities:
Trailhead in Fredericksburg is not marked and was a bit tough to find. The parking lot is next to the elementary school/baseball fields, but the trail is across a bridge and not visible from the parking area. I had to ask for directions. There were several outhouses along the trail.

Recommendations:
Trail should be very easy on a road or mountain bike. It is almost totally flat so it doesn't much matter which end you started at. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen as several sections are totally exposed with no shade. Bug spray would also be a good idea.

This is a terrific rural trail- paved and well maintained. I rode this section in early May and was delighted by the trilliums in bloom along the way. This section is delightfully rural- peaceful farmlands, woods, streams and the small towns along the trail make for a bucolic ride. Trail is flat- if you want terrain this is not it. Flat is OK with me. (my main trail is the Canal Towpath between Cleveland and Akron and that is more diverse in both terrain and scenery.)

I plan to ride the Millersburg-Killbuck section very soon- maybe today! it was not entirely finished several years ago the when I first rode this trail- Google satellite images look very woodsy and isolated once you pass the Walmart. Restrooms and water are not frequent so take advantage of them when you can. Luckily the Millersburg station is right in the middle of the trail.

Millersburg has great little shops to visit- I always antique there even when biking the trail!

This is the 5th Rail-to-Trail that I have ridden in the last year or so. With that being said, it is easy to fault all of the little problems with each trail, but I would like to point out the good features about each trail i ride.

The first point about this trail is the ease of the ride. This trail is relatively flat and in very good condition. The few potholes that are on the trail have been marked with orange paint and are easy to avoid. I started my ride in Fredericksburg, rode through Holmesville, Millersburg,and ended in Killbuck. I then rode back to Fredericksburg. The ride is 15.3 miles each way, 30.6 miles total, and I know this because there are pavement markings indicating the distance. That is a nice feature of the trail, especially if you are riding with someone who is always asking, "Are we there yet?"

The second nice feature of this trail is the dual paths for bikes and buggies. It was neat to see the buggies coming at me and realize that the buggies are safer riding on this trail than out on the road being passed at breakneck speed by cars and trucks. The "road apples" other reviewers were commenting about were on the buggy side of the trail and not an issue at all.

A final comment about the "facilities" along the way. If you plan on starting in Fredericksburg, there aren't any restrooms at the trailhead. You need to use the restroom in the Laundromat in the center of town. I also found a really neat produce shop (Roger's Produce) right in front of the trailhead. It has great fruits and vegetables at a reasonable price. Roger is also a neat fellow to talk to. He is open weekends. Also, when getting directions on where to start riding the trail, use the Frederickburg Elementary School because the trailhead starts right next to it.

There is also a good pizza shop in Millersburg where I stopped for lunch. The steak salad was enough for two people. It was reasonably priced and very friendly.

I think this trail is fantastic and would definitely ride it again. My hat goes off to those who maintain it because they are doing a great job.
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I rode this trail from Fredericksburg to Killbuck and back last week. The trail surface is in very good condition, I did not come across any bumps or potholes at all.
Overall I found riding this flat straight trail pleasant but somewhat ordinary. I enjoy riding on a trail that is more a challenge with inclines or at least a few turns along the way. Maybe there would have been more to enjoy during the spring with abudant wildlife or during the fall with the leaves still on the trees. I just felt like I needed something to break up the Monotony. I would also suggest finding a partner to ride with for this kind of trail and stopping at Killbuck for lunch would probably be a good idea too.
If you enjoy a nice quiet smooth flat ride at a leisurely pace then this trial is for you. On the other hand, if you ride more for fitness and you are looking for a trail that offers some challanges then you may want to look somewhere else.

We rode from Millersburg to Fredericksburg, then straight through to Killbuck and back to Millersburg. This trail is one of the most diverse we have ridden so far. Open fields, wetlands, forest and small towns. Wow. This is why I love Ohio so much! The trail is in great shape from Millersburg to Killbuck. The Millersburg to Fredericksburg section is starting to develop some root damage in a few sections, but nothing serious yet. Since it was midweek, and for many, the first day of school, we pretty much had the trail to ourselves. We did pass a couple of buggies along the way. We just had to pull into the Walmart parking lot to get a picture of the buggy shed there. Overall a wonderful ride on a beautiful trail. I'm looking forward to when the Killbuck to Brinkhaven section is finished!

Very nice trail, rode Fredericksburg to Millersburg on 7/22/10, Then went back on 7/26/10 to ride Millersburg to Killbuck. We found the trail quite comfortable, and for the day we were there, a little too sunny in the northern stretch near Fredericksburg. However, the dual traffic was a delight, and met some friendly biker folks at the Killbuck end. Millersburg to Killbuck is mostly shaded. We spent some time in Millersburg, and lunch at the Millersburg Hotel...check out the "happy hour" there too! Greatly enjoyed both days. Rabers has a full shop a couple of miles north of Millersburg (on 241), and we were very happy to have stopped in. Even test rode a 'bent! Fredericksburg has a corner snack shop (Lems), great ice cream!

Highly recommend the trail and towns it intersects!
Safe Travels!

Just love this trail which I biked from Fredericksburg to Millersburg and back on 7/10/10. I loved the dual use aspect and had no problem whatever with the little presents the Amish horses left behind - almost always deposited on the buggy side of the trail. The carriage traffic is a unique and wonderful aspect of this trail. Appreciated the wetlands and wild flowers between Holmeville and Millersburg. We saw port a potties just south of Holmesville and of course they are available at the park near Fredericksburg school and at the depot in Millersburg. The young proprietor of Rabers Bike Shop in Millersburg was pleasant and helpful. Lunch at Millersburg Hotel very good. Amish were having a big get together at Fredericksburg with lots of food, volleyball, baseball. Fun to watch and sneaks a few pictures with my Amish buster lens. I look forward to exploring the southern section to Kilbuck.

I've completed this trail numerous times and while it is a very very nice trail there are some lacking things that could make this an amazing trail like Kokosing. 1. Portapots - There were none to be found. 2. Clean up the horse poop.... I mean seriously it's like playing dodgems with poop even though there are seperate lanes. 3. Maybe a water fountain or two thats not off the beaten path.

I know they seem like small complaints but it is what it is. Just come prepared.

The Holmes County Trail is, for the most part, a wonderful trail to ride. The scenery is beautiful, and the trail is in good shape. There are, however, a couple things to be aware of. First - on weekends trail use is high, and the trail can get packed with people, especially around Millersburg. Second - while horses are supposed to stay on the chip and seal side of the trail, that doesn't always happen. No matter where you are on the trail, you have to watch for piles of horse manure. These road apples are everywhere. Believe me - riding through them is neither safe nor pleasant. It amazes me that a dog-walker has to pick up dog poop, but the Amish and others with horses on the trail leave big piles of manure where they fall, without consideration for other trail users. People who take horses on the trail should be required to carry a shovel to remove manure from the trail.

We just finished riding this trail from Fredericksburg to Killbuck and have to say it is one of my favorite trails ever. We had a little bit of a hard time finding the north terminus, it turns out it is a school parking lot and the rest rooms are at the Little League field. One of the highlights was heading towards Holmesville and having an Amish horse and buggy turn onto the path and pass us. We have always loved this area but were worried that any road trails would be toooooo hilly, which they would be. However, being a rail trail it has an extremely gentle grade that seems to head up as you go north. Nothing too scary though. Plenty of bogs along the way, turtles sunning themselves on logs, geese, ducks, early and late day riders will see deer, I was told. Another interesting thing we saw south of Millersburg was the cut-through to the local Walmart parking lot that the Amish use to get back and forth. All-in-all, one of our favorite trails and a wonderful 30mile trip. We will return!

It was a hot August morning as we left Fredericksburg and headed south to Hipp Station in Downtown Millersburg on the Holmes County Trail. Set your GPS for the Fredericksburg Elementary School. Parking is in the gravel lot adjacent to the school and baseball fields. The trailhead is to the left 200 feet just across a small bridge.

The tail is unique. It’s generally the width of a two laned country road. One side is asphalt paved for bicycles and the other chip and seal for horses and buggies. The traffic was very light most of the trip. This allowed us to use both lanes. The only caution is that the lanes may differ in height and shift sides. So, watch out for the 1”-2” center drop and change in traffic pattern.

The trail condition was very good. With horses sharing the trail, you occasionally encounter road apples (horse manure). Just remember to keep your eyes ahead and down. About 5 miles south of Fredericksburg you enter the village of Holmesville. The trail follows a few village streets for about a ½ mile before re-entering the trail. This was no issue since it is well marked and the streets were level and in somewhat decent condition.

Hipp Station in Millersburg sits just north and west of downtown. It’s an easy 3-4 block walk to the center of town. The station is the headquarters for the trail and a visitor’s information center. We were surprised that it was closed on a summer Saturday. There was a small bicycle shop in the station. It had a nice assortment of accessories at decent prices.

There is little dining along the trail other than Millersburg. We opted for a sports bar on the main drag across from the courthouse. We passed a Hotel, Mexican restaurant and pizza parlor along the way. Actually the pizza parlor is a good option. It’s just a block east and a block south from the station. We might get a carryout pizza on our next ride and take it back to the station. There is a very nice pavilion with ample space adjacent to this trailhead where you can rest and eat.

Many people continue south from Millersburg for another mile or so. There is a Wal-Mart, retail stores, grocer and several dining options in that area. We did not venture that far south and can’t actually speak to what is there.

This trail is a good one for beginners. It is mostly flat. It does head downhill to Millersburg. The grade back to Fredericksburg was pretty gentle and no big deal. It does not have benches or picnic tales along the route. There are ample areas of shade to stop and rest. Fredericksburg is a small village and has a pizza parlor and restrooms near the trailhead. We did not see the retail area of Holmesville. I suspect it is very small. Millersburg is your best bet for dining.

I rode the Holmes Trail yesterday as part of the Annual Fredericksburg Roll Library Fundraiser.

This trail is great and is neat how you share it with the horse and buggies (look out for the road apples). The trail is very flat and mostly shady.

Each year they lengthen the trail a little bit more. When done it will connect to the "Bridge of Dreams" in Binkhaven.

"I agree it is a very nice trail, but the horses' steel shoes have created little divots in the middle of the skating surface. Consequently, the vibration of the rough surface is transmitted into the skaters (mine!) feet and takes away some of the goodness of the trail."

"I rode the section from Fredericksburg to Walmart just South of Millersburg and it is beautiful, paved all the way. Share the trail with Amish horse and buggies. This section is 11.5 miles one way.
South of Walmart the trail is not paved and fairly rough. I was told construction on that end of it is to begin spring 2007"

"I have ridden most of RTC trails in Ohio and PA and this is a favorite. I rode from Fredericksburg to Millersburg and it was not only a beautiful day for October 1 but excellent trail. One paved lane is for bikes and one along side of it is crushed limestone for Amish buggies. In 10 miles we saw 95 people on bikes and 11 buggies with an average of 4 people in each. At 9 miles there is a beautiful Building by Hipp Lumber for resting, water and information. At 10 miles there is a Wal-Mart with a 15 stall hitching rail for buggies. Before we got on in Fredericksburg, we had
a slice of pizza at Lem's Pizza Shop. There are NO SIGNS in town directing you to the trail. From the traffic light in the center of town, go South about 1/2 mile to Mrs. Millers Home Made Noodles on your right. Turn right there and go 1 mile to Sterling street. You will see a big farm with a white split-rail fence around the whole farm at Sterling Street. Go 1/4 mile on Sterling to the Trailhead.
About the 5-6 mile marker, there is a clean, finished, well-lit tunnel. Immediately after the tunnel, turn left into a path that goes up hill to Skip's Trail Depot for an excellent lunch. I stopped there for lunch and a flea market. I bought a Daimler, 21 speed, ladies' bike for $20 in very good condition. The seller held it till I could get back with my car. The 21.8 mile trip took 5 wonderful hours including a yogurt parfait at McDonald's near Wal-Mart. It's the best bike trip this year. I got some pictures I will post when I finish the roll of film.
"

"August 11, 2005.
Yesterday we celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary at a local Inn. We had heard of the unique features of the Holmes County Trail, so we brought our bikes with us in hopes of giving it a try before we headed home. We were not disappointed. It was a fun ride.

We drove to the Walmart parking lot about 2 miles south of Millersburg on Route 83. This is an excellent place to park and begin your ride. Right away you will notice that this is not your typical bike trail. Not every Walmart has a “Hitching Rail” and a covered barn-like building to house horse and buggies while their Amish owners shop. Please be aware that while the Amish are very friendly and happy to talk to you, because of their beliefs they may not want their pictures taken. Please ask first and respect their wishes.

Just to the right of the Hitching Rail and buggy parking area is the entrance to the trail. Although the improved trail goes a short distance farther south, we did not go that way and can’t comment on that portion.

We made a right turn and headed north. Since the trail mile markers start numbering from the north end, you will encounter decreasing numbers as you ride north. The first one we noticed was mile 10, a little over half a mile north of our starting point.

It was in the mid 80’s with high humidity, but there was ample shade and it was more comfortable to be moving rather than standing still. The trail is designed for both bicycle / rollerblade traffic and horse and buggy traffic. Some sections of the trail have a lane of asphalt and a lane of crushed limestone to be more horse friendly. It was not a busy day but we did encounter several horse and buggies, a rollerblader and occasional bicycles.

Like most rail trails, this one is quite flat, even though the Millersburg area has lots of rolling hills. The biggest incline we encountered was at the Route 83 underpass.

Just before the Route 83 underpass there is the opportunity to make a right turn and go up the hill. This will take you to Skip’s Trail Stop. We stopped there for lunch (actually on the return leg of our trip). There are restrooms, cool drinks, and a large selection of lunch type items. The food was good (and inexpensive). It appeared that many locals eat there regularly. Skip has lots of railroad memorabilia displayed and is quite happy to “talk trains” if you have an interest.

Continuing on north we went through the lighted underpass at Route 83 and continued on about 2 miles to Holmesville. In Holmesville there is a small detour that goes around a grain elevator. It is well marked but is essentially a left, right , right, left and back on the trail. It appeared that the railroad had originally gone right through the grain elevator site but now we must go around it.

Continuing on, we discovered that some sections of the trail are actually divided and on different levels - buggies lower and bicycles higher.

All good things must come to an end. The current end of the improved trail came at the 10.68 mile point from our starting location. This is at Sterling Street just south of Fredericksburg. We heard what sounded like the whistle of a steam locomotive. Curious, we asked a gentleman who was walking his dogs if there were still steam locomotives in the area. He said there was an Amish sawmill nearby that was steam powered and we were probably hearing the lunch whistle. Not every trail has one of those.

The trail was comprised of woodlands, farmlands, wetlands, and some suburban city areas. The scenery was most pleasant. It was a most enjoyable ride.

Happy trails from Gramy and Gramps

"

"My husband and I have been on this trail twice. It was a beautiful experience. Not only did we see an eagle, lots of blue birds and wild flowers, but had fun watching the Amish buggies go by us. We even got to talk to them. They were on their way to the Wal-Mart Store. It has a lot of shade along the trail. The trail is about 13 miles long. You get on the trail at the Wal-Mart parking lot and there are places to eat and stay close by. You must give this one a try. Ruth and John"

"I rode the Holmes County Trail last fall between Holmesville and Killbuck, on a beautiful sunny day full of fall colors. I understand the trail is constantly being upgraded, but at my last visit it was paved in the Holmesville area, dirt through Millersburg, and weed-grown ballast south of there. If you're going south of Millersburg (toward Killbuck), you definitely need a fat-tire bike, as the trail is quite primitive. Also, make sure you bring insect repellent, because the trail is bounded by swampland on both sides.

Apart from those difficulties, the ride is beautiful and quiet...I encountered very few other trail users that day. Fun note: the train station in Killbuck is still standing, with a sign telling you how far it is to Columbus.

I'm certainly looking forward to when the trail is officially connected with the Mohican Valley Trail, etc., so it will actually be possible to bike all the way to Columbus on the rail-trail."

"I discovered this trail today (Jan 11, 2004) while ""Geocaching"" (an adventure game for GPS users), and I will most definitely be back in the spring, if not sooner, with the family and the bikes. As a resident of Green, OH (Summit County), it's a long drive to the trail but looks to be well worth the trip. I will post photos after my first ride.

Great trail!"

The best part of this trail is that you might encounter an Amish family in a horse drawn buggy. This is a great trail -- it's very wooded on each side.

"We took our miniature horses hooked to carts on this trail a few times now and are addicted! This is a lovely trail, and the horses seem to really enjoy it. So did we!"